93

Her words are carefully chosen, each barb aimed to draw blood.

I open my mouth, but Cedric doesn’t give me the chance to speak. “Princess Vivian was always meant to be nothing more than a political prisoner. My intended mate was always Leanna. You are well aware of this. And since when do the noble families interfere in the king’s personal matters? You are crossing the line, Bella Asher. Step back.”

Cedric’s voice is icy cold and filled with warning.

However, Bella refuses to back down. I begin to wonder if she has any self-preservation skills at all. Harriet once told me that Bella, when angry, will go to any length to get her way. That was a long time ago. I thought that over these past eight years, after losing Cedric’s favor, she would have changed a little bit, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. She is not heeding her king’s command.

An older man rushes forward, whispering urgently to her, “This is not the time, Bella. Don’t make a scene.”

But Bella shakes him off, her eyes flashing with an almost manic rage. “Her blood is dirty! We will not accept a queen of dirty blood. That bastard child of hers should have his head torn off by wolves—”

Unable to stop myself, I snarl at her, but Cedric steps in front of me, roaring, “You have gone too far! For threatening the crown prince of the Northern Kingdom and my son, the Asher family has committed an unforgivable crime. Every member of the Asher family is to be arrested and slated for execution. There will be no trial!”

The older man who had rushed to stop Bella goes white in the face. “Your Majesty! You can’t do this! She was merely concerned—”

“Guards!” Erik raises his voice, and the palace guards enter the ballroom. “Arrest Bella Asher and her father.”

Finn clings to me now, shaking. Bella’s father throws himself on the ground at Cedric’s feet. “Your Majesty, please reconsider! She was wrong! Spare us!”

But Bella is quivering with rage. She darts toward me, her claws extended. Before either Cedric or I can react, somebody else grabs her from behind, forcing her arms behind her back and shoving her down to the floor.

It’s Derrick.

When Bella sees him, she grows even more furious. “Let me go, Derrick! This bitch ruined everything! I’m going to kill her! I should’ve killed her and that bastard child when I had the chance! She took you from me, and she took Cedric from me! I’ll kill her! I’ll kill her!”

Derrick grabs her by the neck and twists.

Bella’s body goes limp, the life draining from her eyes.

Her father looks on in horror as I shield my son from the sight. Harriet appears behind him, and I quickly hand Finn over to her. She leads him up the stairs and away from the ballroom.

Derrick’s jaw is tight, and he mutters, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I didn’t want the young prince to hear anything further.”

The palace guards remove Bella’s body and her horrified father. Amid the terrible hush that has fallen over the room, a familiar-looking man steps forward, disapproval written all over his face. “King Cedric, what is the meaning of this? My niece is the reigning queen of the North. The Eastern Kingdom has been assisting you because we made a deal that if Vivian was the queen—”

Cedric cuts him off. “Your niece has always been a political prisoner.”

“You are insulting us,” the current king of the Eastern Kingdom spits out. “Leanna Avery was Vivian’s shadow. She was Vivian’s servant, no better than a slave. How do you put a slave above my niece? Vivian is revered in the Eastern Kingdom. You promised to protect her—”

“I made no such promise. I told you she would stay alive for as long as you cooperated.” Cedric steps toward the older man, who flinches. “And don’t forget that I put you on the throne. Besides, why would I choose Vivian as my mate when I already had a fated mate?”

The man refuses to budge. “Vivian is a princess of royal descent. This girl is of unknown origin. You must know that no noble family would accept her kind as queen.”

“I accept Leanna as queen of the North,” Erik interjects, raising a brow at him. “I believe she is well suited for the role. In fact, not only will my kingdom recognize Queen Leanna, we will also support Crown Prince Finn’s claim to the throne. The boy has grown up within my kingdom and in my palace. He is beloved by us all.”

Vivian’s uncle’s expression turns ashen. “You cannot do this, King Erik. This is a deeply personal matter—”

“I agree,” Erik shrugs. “It is a personal matter. And since I have watched the child grow up into a confident young boy, I am deeply and personally invested in this matter.”

“You can’t—You can’t do this to me!” Vivian hisses, seemingly having found her voice again. Her hand goes to her stomach. “That bastard is not your heir. I’m the one carrying your heir! The heir to the Northern Kingdom is in my womb! That slave was little more than amusement for me! I had her spread her legs for every man I knew. She was the palace whore! How can the palace whore of the Eastern Kingdom be the queen of the Northern Kingdom?! You don’t even know if that’s your son! She could be passing off any man’s child as yours!”

I feel the rage building within Cedric, and his anger tempers mine.

“Do you have proof?” I demand. I know I told Cedric I wouldn’t speak, even though I knew Vivian would do anything, including assassinate my character, to antagonize me. But the words come flying out of me. “My mate would never touch you. He cannot stand you. And whoever’s child you’re carrying, Vivian, it is not Cedric’s. He has been loyal to me these past eight years. But I can prove that my son is indeed of royal blood. Cedric himself conducted a blood test, and if that’s not proof enough for you, just look at the boy. My son looks exactly like his father.”

“How dare you call me by my name?!” Vivian raises her hand, her eyes flashing. Cedric grabs her wrist, twists it, and shoves her away from me. She falls into the arms of Xavier, who steadies her.

I feel his filthy gaze on me, and he sneers. “King Cedric, I can testify that this woman was my lover. And I can also testify that she was indeed passed around in the palace—”

“Are you willing to take a vow?” I ask quietly, staring at him. “Are you willing to put your family’s lives on the line for that statement?”

His eyes tighten. “I was speaking to the king—”

“And I am his queen, and I am replying to you.”

Cedric shrugs, gesturing with his head toward me. “Answer her question.”